News and notes from each week of NASCAR racing using a Las Vegas oddsmaking perspective

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

NASCAR Dishes Out Big Penalties and Fines to Kenseth and No. 20 Team

Matt Kenseth won his second race of the season at Kansas on Sunday

In one of the biggest penalties in NASCAR history, Matt Kenseth was docked 50 points and crew chief Jason Ratcliff was suspended for seven races for having an engine connecting rod that did not meet the minimum weight following Kenseth’s victory Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Ratcliff also was fined $200,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31. Matt Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing were hit with big penalties Wednesday for an engine violation after

In addition, the team also was docked 50 owner points and team owner Joe Gibbs had his NASCAR license suspended for six points races, which means the team cannot earn owner points for those events.

JGR will appeal the penalties. Ratcliff is expected to remain with the team until the appeal is heard.

Kenseth, who will get to keep the race win, earned only 48 points for the victory so all points earned Sunday in the STP 400 were essentially wiped out. The loss of points isn’t the only impact on Kenseth’s postseason hopes.

2016 Rundown· Four wins, 17 top fives, 24 top 10s,· Led 1378 laps· Average Finish of 11.6Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:· One win, two top fives, four top 10s· Average finish of 21.091, 23rd-best· Average Running Position of 14.792, 13th-best· Driver Rating of 95.5, eighth-best· 1962 Laps in the Top 15 (66.8), eighth-most· 447 Quality Passes, 10th-most